The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne, has ended the year 2024 on a high note, with remarkable achievements in anti-smuggling operations and revenue generation.
Comptroller Mohammed Babandede, the controller of the command disclosed this during a press briefing on the 31st December, 2024.
According to Babandede, the command has seized an additional 12 containers of illicit medicine, including 1.7 million bottles of codeine cough syrup, 510,000 tablets of diclofenac, and 7.1 million tablets of tramadol with duty-paid value of ₦20.3 billion .He noted that the latest seizure brings the total number of containers seized by the Command to 76, with a duty-paid value of ₦150.9 billion.
He also disclosed that in terms of revenue generation, the Command has surpassed it year’s target of ₦618 billion, generating a total of ₦634 billion, which represents a 103% achievement of the annual target.
The Comptroller attributed the command’s success to the support and collaboration of stakeholders, including the media, and the purposeful engagement of partners while appreciating the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi for recognizing the Command’s efforts and rewarding officers with special promotions.
” The Nigeria Customs Service, Area 2 Command, Onne has recorded another remarkable achievement in our ongoing battle against smuggling and illicit trade. Our vigilant officers and men have successfully intercepted and seized an additional 12 containers (40 feet) of illicit medicine.
” The breakdown of this seizures are 1,721,100 bottles of 100ml Cough Syrup Codeine, 510,000 tablets of 50mg Really Extra Diclofenac, 7,100,000 tablets of 225mg Royal apple Tramadol and Tramaking, 3,461 pieces of Sanitary ware Fittings used for concealment, 840 pieces of Chilly cutter used for concealment, 153 cartons of TVS rubber and the Duty Paid Value of the twelve containers is ₦20,309,890,800.
” Earlier in the year the Command was given a revenue target of 618 billion naira. I am glad to inform you that as at this morning the Command with the aid of stakeholder engagement, synergy, collaboration and intelligence sharing, has surpassed the target given by generating a total revenue of N634 billion which accounts for 103% of the annual target. This amount is over the 2023 collection by N321 billion and represents 98% increase over the 2023 generated revenue.
” In the area of anti-smuggling, the Command made a total of 76 container seizures comprising of arms, ammunition, illicit medicine, vegetable oil, foot wares, donkey skin, used cloths among others uncustomed goods used as concealment with a duty paid value of ₦150,872,551,207.
” In export, the major commodities exported through this axis comprises of Agro and Mineral resources namely: sesame seeds, aluminum ingot, granular urea in bulk, wheat bran, orange peel among others and a total of 2,707,339.22 Metric tonnes of goods with a free on board (FOB) value of $952,986,490.99 which is equivalent to ₦1,261,039,933,168.99 was processed through the Command this year.
” It is worth noting that the morale and dedication of our officers have been significantly bolstered by the Comptroller-General of Customs’ award, recognizing Area 2 Command as the best Command in anti-smuggling operations. In the recently released 2024 promotion for General Duty/Support Staff for officers and men of the Service, the Area 2 Command got some officers promoted as well. A total of 14 Deputy Comptrollers were elevated to the rank of Comptroller. A total of 6 Assistant Comptrollers were elevated to the rank of Deputy Comptrollers and 17 Chief Superintendent of Customs were elevated to the rank of Assistant Comptrollers. Other newly promoted officers include 22 to Chief Superintendent of Customs, 4 to Superintendent of Customs, 18 to Deputy Superintendent of Customs, 14 to Assistant Superintendent of One and 16 to Assistant Superintendent of Two. Junior Officers were also promoted as 9 got Inspector of Customs, 3 got Customs Assistant One and 3 got Customs Assistant Two
” Let me use this opportunity to specially appreciate the CGC who in September this year promised to reward Officers and men of the Command for the role they played in the Interception of 844 units of riffles and 112,500 pieces of live ammunition. In keeping to his promise a total of Eight (8) Officers of the Command were given special promotion”
